Medical Occupations - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical Care and Transport Act." - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2; Title 44, Chapter 17; Title 63, Chapter 12 and Title 68, Chapter 140. Comp, the official text

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Stam f/Jennessee

                              PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 713

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 2069

  By Watson, Campbell, Bailey, Bowling, Crowe, Gardenhire, Jackson, Pody, Reeves, Rose,
                                                                Yager

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 1694

 By Reneau, Crawford, Greg Martin, Helton-Haynes, Russell, Hulsey, Behn, Terry, Sherrell, Barrett,
                             Vital, Hardaway, Clemmons, McCalmon, Cepicky, Howell

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2; Title 44, Chapter 17;
          Title 63, Chapter 12 and Title 68, Chapter 140, relative to emergency services for specially
          trained animals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee K-9 Emergency Medical
Care and Transport Act."

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 12, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

                    (a) Emergency medical services personnel are immune from discipline by the board
          of veterinary examiners for emergency medical services regulated by the Tennessee
          emergency medical services board.

                    (b) Subsection (a) does not provide immunity for the provision of veterinary medicine
          that an emergency medical services personnel may provide during the transport of a canine .
          first responder, pursuant to§ 68-140-336.

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-12-133, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

                    (d)(1) Emergency medical services personnel who transport or provide emergency
                    care to a canine first responder injured in the line of duty pursuant to § 68-140-336
                    are not required to be licensed under this chapter.

                              (2) Emergency medical service personnel transporting or providing authorized
                    care, as described in § 68-140-336, are not engaged in the unauthorized practice of
                    veterinary medicine.

          SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 140, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

          68-140-336.

                    (a) As used in this section, "canine first responder" means a dog:

                              (1) With specialized training, or in the process of receiving specialized training,
                    for police, military, or patrol work; detection work; or search-and-rescue; and

                              (2) Being used by and under the control of a federal, state, or local law
                    enforcement officer, railroad police officer commissioned pursuant to § 65-6-133, or a
                    member of the United States armed forces or of a reserve or Tennessee national
                    guard unit in the performance of the officer's or member's law enforcement or military
                    duties.
SB 2069
                    (b) Emergency medical services personnel may:
                              (1) Transport a canine first responder injured in the line of duty to a veterinary
                    clinic, veterinary hospital, or other similar facility, if there is no individual who requires
                    medical attention or transport at that time; and
                              (2) Provide emergency care to a canine first responder injured in the line of
                    duty while at the scene of the injury or while the canine first responder is being
                    transported pursuant to subdivision (b)(1).
                    (c) Emergency medical services personnel who act in good faith to provide

          emergency care to a canine first responder pursuant to subdivision (b)(2) are immune from
          criminal and civil liability as it relates to any injury or harm caused to the injured canine first
          responder. Emergency medical services personnel are also immune from criminal and civil
          liability for refusing to provide care to or transport an injured canine first responder.

                    (d) Emergency medical services personnel providing services pursuant to this section
          are immune from discipline from the Tennessee emergency medical services board
          regarding the provision of veterinary medicine.
          SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2069

PASSED:  April 2, 2026

         ~              '~"&-- -: ~ - -~- . . . _ , ,......
                        ~                  RANDY Mei~

                           SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                        C.

                          CAMER EXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(\pr~ \ ~ APPROVED this
         day of                            2026

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                       BILL LEE, GOVERNOR